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because Epaphroditus was sick; why did he not heal him as he did others? Then this
made me say, Why have we not all the miraculous gifts which the Church at Corinth had?
Then I find during the period of the Acts of the Apostles that there were two baptisms,
one in water, and one in spirit, whereas in Eph. 4: 5 I find that "there is one baptism".
Which one is it? and why only one? Then I used to believe that the church was the Bride,
Peter speaks of the redeemed as being as holy nation and a royal priesthood, while Paul
in Ephesians and Colossians says the church is the Body.
Then again I used to believe that we ought to keep the Sabbath day, yet I find in
Col. 2: 18, "Let no man judge you with regard to the Sabbath day", and in Gal. 4: 10,
11, "Ye observe days, I am afraid for you". Matt. 19: 16-20 (the very words of Christ
Himself mark you) teaches that eternal life may be had by keeping the ten
commandments, yet Gal. 3: 21 teaches that life cannot come by the law, but only by
faith.
B.--What is the solution, do you think? Shall we conclude that the four Gospels are truth
and the Epistles untrue?
A.--No, for we have seen that John 16: 12-14 looks forward to the Epistles (see No.1),
and that the Epistles are inspired equally with the Gospels (see No.2).
B.--The solution then must be found in some other feature. Let us look once more at
John 16: 12-14. It is evident that in the Epistles we must expect something deeper and
more advanced than we find in the Gospels, for the Lord said, "I have yet many things to
say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now". It is also evident that whatever the
difference may be, it will not take away, but rather add to, the glory of Christ, for
concerning that added revelation the Lord said of the Spirit, "He shall glorify Me".
A.--But what puzzles me is, how can both Gospels and Epistles be true when they say
such opposite things?
B.--The answer is fairly simple. It is a matter of recognizing different dispensations.
A.--What do you mean by dispensations?
B.--Let us find our answer in John's Gospel again. This time turn to chapter 1: 17, 18:--
"For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man
hath seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, Who is in the bosom of the Father,
He hath declared Him."
In these verses two dispensations are referred to, the one of law, the other of grace.
The one revealing God as Law-giver and King, the other as Father. You yourself have
already recognized the difference between these two dispensations, for being a Christian
you do not feel called upon to put into practice all that Moses taught under the law, even